Recipe: Slow Roasted Holiday Brisket

Author: nbarr   |   0 Comments   |   Categories: Kettle Club   |   Tags: • • • • •

INGREDIENTS

2 pound Kettle Club Brisket

Kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 carrots, peeled and sliced into 3/4-inch lengths

1 large onion, cut into quarters

2 ribs celery, cut into 3-inch lengths

3 cloves garlic, smashed

1 tablespoons honey

1 tablespoons brown mustard

1/4 cup red wine vinegar

4 ounces peeled, finely grated horseradish root

1 quarts beef bone broth

1 bay leave

3 sprigs thyme

 

DIRECTIONS

  1. Preheat the oven to 250 degrees. Grab an ovenproof braising pan or pot with a tight-fitting lid.
  2. Season the brisket liberally with salt and pepper. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in pan. Add the brisket and brown it on all sides. Remove from pan and set aside.
  3. Add 1 or 2 tablespoons of oil to the pan or pot if needed, then add the carrots, onions, celery and garlic. Season with salt and pepper to taste; cook for 2 minutes, stirring to coat evenly.
  4. Combine the honey, mustard, vinegar and horseradish in a medium bowl and stir until smooth. Add it to vegetable mixture. Cook for about 3 minutes stirring often dislodge any browned bits from the bottom of the pan or pot.
  5. Return the brisket to the braising pan or pot (still over medium-high heat). Add enough broth to cover the brisket, then add the bay leaves, thyme and parsley. Once the liquid starts to bubble at the edges, cover and transfer to the oven.
  6. Slow-roast until the internal temperature reaches 165-170 degrees F (about 2 1/2 hours)
  7. Let rest for 10-15 minutes and slice against the grain when serving.

Tip: The pan drippings make an excellent gravy for serving your slow-roasted brisket!

Featured Cut: Grass-fed Beef Brisket

Author: nbarr   |   0 Comments   |   Categories: Kettle Club   |   Tags: • • •

The Thanksgiving table is a glorious show with the turkey holding the spotlight. But that doesn’t mean it can’t get a little help from a supporting cast. Get a standing (or reclining) ovation from friends and family this year by adding a tender, slow-roasted brisket to the table.

Our butchers are handcrafting some amazing beef briskets for Kettle Club shares that include beef roasts this month. Before we get into recipes, let’s learn a little more about this diverse beef cut.

What is a brisket?

If we had to say steers had a glamour muscle, the brisket would be it! The brisket comes from the lower chest, or pectoral muscles of the steer and bears about 60% of the animal’s weight as it moves across pasture. Steers use their pectoral muscles at every step. Leaning down to get a bite of nutritious grass, laying down to get some rest, even reaching back with their heads to keep off summer flies. The pecs are always getting toned, which results in a flavorful cut of meat.

Remember back in August when we talked about what makes beef cuts flavorful? Of course you do, but let’s recap. Weight bearing muscles are constantly being toned which means there is more connective tissue and blood flow to the area. This results in the presence of Umami, or protein flavor. What’s important to remember about these delicious cuts is that they need more cook time to break down strong muscle fibers. Let’s talk about some tips for cooking and serving brisket.

 

Relax those muscles with a soak or spicy massage

Wet brine, dry brine, the winner is still up for debate among BBQ enthusiasts. What we do know for certain is that salt applied in any manner prior to cooking helps tenderize flavorful cuts like brisket. Salt is comprised of sodium and chloride ions that denature or unwind the proteins of highly worked muscles. These altered proteins can then retain more water, keeping the meat moist during the cooking process.  If you’re using a dry rub, make sure you’re coating every inch and getting that salt in all the nooks and crannies. For wet brines, ensure you allow at least 12 hours of relaxing soak time.

 

Slow and steady wins the race

Whether you’re oven roasting, smoking or using the crock pot, cuts like briskets need proper time and temperature to reach their full potential. You’ve heard us say it before and we’ll say it again, LOW AND SLOW! This allows connective tissue to break down slowly and results in a buttery, tender roast. A good rule of thumb is about 45-50 minutes per lb. when cooking at 250 degrees. Don’t forget to check it with your trusty meat thermometer regularly! An internal temperature of 165-170 degrees F is recommended for a slow roasted brisket.

 

If you want the best, let it rest!

Rest your cooked brisket for at least 10-15 minutes before slicing carefully against the grain. This allows for the juices from the fat to sink in and provides a tender finishing texture.

Recipe: Heritage Pork Stuffing

Author: nbarr   |   0 Comments   |   Categories: Uncategorized

Ingredients:

  • 1 stick unsalted butter, plus more for the baking dish
  • 2 pounds white sandwich bread, cut into 1-inch cubes (20 cups)
  • 4 inner celery ribs, finely diced (1 1/2 cups)
  • 2 large carrots, finely diced (1 cup)
  • 1 sweet onion, finely diced (2 1/2 cups)
  • 1-pound Kettle Club bulk breakfast sausage
  • 2 tablespoons chopped sage
  • 2 tablespoons chopped thyme
  • 3 cups Turkey or Chicken Stock
  • Salt and freshly ground pepper
  1. Preheat the oven to 350° and butter a large baking dish. Spread the bread cubes on a baking sheet and toast for 25 minutes, stirring, until lightly browned and crisp.

 

  1. Meanwhile, in a large, deep skillet, melt the 1 stick of butter. Pour half of the butter into a small bowl and reserve. Add the celery, carrots and onion to the skillet and cook over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally, until softened and just beginning to brown, about 8 minutes. Scrape the vegetables into a large bowl. Add the sausage to the skillet in lumps and cook over moderately high heat, breaking it up with a spoon, until lightly browned and cooked through, about 6 minutes. Return the vegetables to the skillet, add the sage and thyme and cook for 1 minute. Add 1 cup of the stock and cook, scraping up any bits stuck to the pan, until nearly evaporated, about 5 minutes.

 

  1. Scrape the sausage mixture into the large bowl and add the toasted bread cubes. Add the remaining 2 cups of stock and stir until the bread is evenly moistened. Season with salt and freshly ground pepper. Spread the stuffing in the baking dish and brush with the reserved melted butter.

 

  1. Bake the stuffing in the center of the oven for about 1 hour, until it is heated through and the top is browned and crisp. Let the stuffing stand for 10 minutes before serving.